Hydraulic casing collar locator

Abstract

A device, system, and method for locating collars along a casing string. The device includes a casing collar locator (CCL) and a valve in communication with the CCL connected to a work string. Fluid is pumped down the work string as the device is used to locate collars along a string. Upon detection of a collar, the CCL sends a signal to the valve, which causes the actuation of the valve to decreases a flow area within a work string. The decrease in flow area causes a pressure increase within the work string, which may be detected at the surface to indicate the detection of a collar. The device may include an amplifier and power source to amplify the signal from the CCL to the valve. The CCL may detect collars by a change in magnetic flux or by the detection of a signal emitted by individual collars.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A device comprising:
 a casing collar locator (CCL) configured to individually detect one or more collars located along a casing string; and 
 a valve in communication with the CCL; 
 wherein upon detection of an individual collar of the one or more collars the CCL sends a signal to the valve; and 
 wherein the valve is actuated upon reception of the signal from the CCL. 
 
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1 , further comprising an amplifier in communication with the CCL and a power source in communication with the amplifier, the valve being in communication with the CCL via the amplifier and power source, wherein upon the detection of the individual collar the CCL sends a signal to the amplifier and the amplifier send the a signal to the valve, and wherein the valve is actuated upon reception of the signal from the amplifier. 
     
     
       3. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the actuation of valve restricts a flow area that creates a pressure increase. 
     
     
       4. The device of  claim 3 , wherein the pressure increase is at least 200 psi. 
     
     
       5. The device of  claim 3 , wherein the CCL is further configured to detect a change in magnetic flux between the casing string and the one or more collars. 
     
     
       6. The device of  claim 5 , wherein the CCL further comprises a magnet and a coil. 
     
     
       7. The device of  claim 3 , wherein each collar of the one or more collars emits a signal and the CCL is further configured to detect the emitted signal. 
     
     
       8. The device of  claim 7 , wherein each collar of the one or more collars further comprises a gamma isotope and the CCL further comprises a gamma ray detector. 
     
     
       9. A method of detecting collars along a casing string comprising:
 pumping fluid down a work string positioned within a casing string; 
 moving the work string along the casing string; 
 detecting a collar along the casing string with a casing collar locator (CCL) connected to the work string; and 
 actuating a valve within the work string due to the detection of the collar along the casing string, wherein the actuation of the valve comprises reducing a flow area in a portion of the work string. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , further comprising moving the work string to move the CCL past the collar and removing the flow reduction through the portion of the work string. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 9 , wherein detecting the collar further comprises detecting a change in magnetic flux between the collar and the casing string. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the actuation of the valve causes a pressure increase within the work string. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , further comprising detecting at a surface location the pressure increase within the work string. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 9 , wherein detecting the collar further comprises detecting a signal emitted from the collar. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , wherein detecting the signal emitted from the collar further comprises detecting an emission from a gamma isotope with a gamma ray detector. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 14 , wherein detecting the signal emitted from the collar further comprises detecting an acoustic signal emitted from an electric transducer. 
     
     
       17. A system to detect collars along a casing string comprising:
 a work string positioned within a casing string; 
 a casing collar locator (CCL) configured to detect collars along the casing string, the CCL connected to the work string and positioned within the casing string; and 
 a valve in communication with the CCL, the valve positioned within the work string; 
 wherein upon detection of a collar the valve is actuated to reduce a flow area through a portion of the work string. 
 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 an amplifier in communication with the CCL, the amplifier positioned within the casing string; and 
 a power source in communication with the amplifier, the power source positioned within the casing string; 
 wherein the valve is in communication with the CCL via the amplifier; 
 wherein upon reception of the signal from the CCL the amplifier sends a signal to the valve to actuate the valve. 
 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 17 , wherein the work string further comprises coiled tubing. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 17 , wherein actuation of the valve creates a pressure increase in the work string. 
     
     
       21. The system of  claim 17 , wherein the CCL is further configured to detect a change in magnetic flux between the casing string and the collar. 
     
     
       22. The system of  claim 17 , wherein each collar emits a signal and the CCL is further configured to detect the emitted signal.